Influence of Frequent flyer Programs Survey/Help Needed
Dec 8, 2006 | 2:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 3
Influence of Frequent flyer Programs Survey/Help Needed
People would be willing to help me. I am currently in my final year at University and I am studying for my final year project, "The influence frequent flyer programmes have on consumer decisions." I have produced a questionnaire where I have to get a large number of respondants to pass the section.
I would therefore be greatful if anyone would like to help and complete a questionnaire for me, it does not take more than 5 mins to complete. I will send it you via email. If you would like to participate please could you email me your address to [email protected]
I would therefore be greatful if anyone would like to help and complete a questionnaire for me, it does not take more than 5 mins to complete. I will send it you via email. If you would like to participate please could you email me your address to [email protected]
Dec 8, 2006 | 10:23 am
#2
Founder of FlyerTalk
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,540
Sarahel22: Welcome to FlyerTalk and congrats on your studies. Interesting topic you have chosen and we wish you well with your research.
Curious - how did it come to be that you chose this specific topic? Are your parents actively involved in the quest for miles? As well, wondering how popular the topic might be for other university students you might know?
Count me in as contacting you to assist with the survey and I would encourage all other members to help as well - we're all here on FlyerTalk because of the topic and maybe we can convince this new member to share her research with us when she's done.
Again welcome and I look forward to receiving your survey.
Cheers,
Randy
Curious - how did it come to be that you chose this specific topic? Are your parents actively involved in the quest for miles? As well, wondering how popular the topic might be for other university students you might know?
Count me in as contacting you to assist with the survey and I would encourage all other members to help as well - we're all here on FlyerTalk because of the topic and maybe we can convince this new member to share her research with us when she's done.
Again welcome and I look forward to receiving your survey.
Cheers,
Randy
Dec 8, 2006 | 10:36 am
#3
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,861
Request previously posted in this thread...
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631343
...which was locked and quickly scrolled off the first page. Perhaps it should be a sticky if Flyertalk management want to encourage participation?
dennis
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631343
...which was locked and quickly scrolled off the first page. Perhaps it should be a sticky if Flyertalk management want to encourage participation?
dennis
Dec 8, 2006 | 10:41 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: (not Montana. Nor is my name really Helena, nor am I female)
Programs: Delta, USAirways, Starwood, Priority Club, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 2,557
sarahel22, I would also like to say "Welcome to flyertalk," but I suppose that once Randy's said it (Randy's the site's founder), it's been said.
I would caution you as you analyze the results of your survey to recognize that the responses you get from flyertalk members will not represent the general public. We are a self-selected group that will, I'd expect, report much more enthusiasm for frequent flyer programs and a higher response rate to their influence on our shopping behavior (and behavior in general) than is typical in the general population. It might be worthwhile to segregate the responses from this group and compare them with those you get from people recruited from other sources.
I would caution you as you analyze the results of your survey to recognize that the responses you get from flyertalk members will not represent the general public. We are a self-selected group that will, I'd expect, report much more enthusiasm for frequent flyer programs and a higher response rate to their influence on our shopping behavior (and behavior in general) than is typical in the general population. It might be worthwhile to segregate the responses from this group and compare them with those you get from people recruited from other sources.
Dec 8, 2006 | 11:03 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PWM usually, DCA/IAD this year
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 307
sarahel22I would caution you as you analyze the results of your survey to recognize that the responses you get from flyertalk members will not represent the general public. We are a self-selected group that will, I'd expect, report much more enthusiasm for frequent flyer programs and a higher response rate to their influence on our shopping behavior (and behavior in general) than is typical in the general population. It might be worthwhile to segregate the responses from this group and compare them with those you get from people recruited from other sources.
Helena is dead on with that comment -- you'll have serious sample selection issues if you only conduct your survey among people on FT (in layman's terms, it would be like going to a restaurant and asking people if they liked to eat out). That being said, if you took a random sample of people from society, you probably wouldn't get enough people who are familiar with frequent flyer programs to identify any effects. If your analytical background is strong enough, I would recommend oversampling FTers within the context of a more general survey, and using survey weights appropriately. If you've never heard of this before, a simpler alternative would be to split your sample as Helena recommends and to compare the results of the two groups.
Best of luck on your project.
Dec 8, 2006 | 1:40 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 3
how did it come to be that you chose this specific topic?
Well here in England, Frequent flyer programmes are not as popular as in the US, but there has been increased interest from the British based airlines, so I thought I would research to see how the airlines could therefore benefit from introducing this more over here. I have always had a keen interest in working for an airline once I graduate from University next year, therefore, it seemed sensible to focus my studies on this area and no one in past years at my University has ever studied anything to do with frequent flyer programmes.
Are your parents actively involved in the quest for miles?
Both my parents and I are currently involved in collecting miles, I am a memeber of Virgin Atlantic , but my parents are active flyers between the UK and the US, so are memebers of United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Continental Airlines.
how popular the topic might be for other university students you might know? At the moment the most popular honours project subjects are to study low cost airlines or something to do with the UK tour operators, therefore they have found it interesting as it is different to the usual research undertaken.
In answer to the problem over my sample, I have identified my sample to anyone who is a frequent flyer memeber, both in the UK, USA and Australia. I will also be noting the sample as a limitation in my research.
Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in my research.
Well here in England, Frequent flyer programmes are not as popular as in the US, but there has been increased interest from the British based airlines, so I thought I would research to see how the airlines could therefore benefit from introducing this more over here. I have always had a keen interest in working for an airline once I graduate from University next year, therefore, it seemed sensible to focus my studies on this area and no one in past years at my University has ever studied anything to do with frequent flyer programmes.
Are your parents actively involved in the quest for miles?
Both my parents and I are currently involved in collecting miles, I am a memeber of Virgin Atlantic , but my parents are active flyers between the UK and the US, so are memebers of United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Continental Airlines.
how popular the topic might be for other university students you might know? At the moment the most popular honours project subjects are to study low cost airlines or something to do with the UK tour operators, therefore they have found it interesting as it is different to the usual research undertaken.
In answer to the problem over my sample, I have identified my sample to anyone who is a frequent flyer memeber, both in the UK, USA and Australia. I will also be noting the sample as a limitation in my research.
Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in my research.
Dec 8, 2006 | 5:37 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,062
Welcome to FT! Email me and I will do the survey too and even offer feedback on its style because frankly I find many surveys are skewed. Not all but many. You can send me a private message and I will send you my email.
I can tell you this, though, about my mile use:
1) if theres a way to get a deal such as in flying with miles to make it cost little or nothing, I will try.
2) Even people with money even want deals. Why? To WIN! People with money dont even want the money sometimes. It's about the feeling of power and that's not a bad thing. They want to win. I want to win. You want to win. In the minds of many addicts in here, we think we win. Money or not, that is why we do this. Does it save us time? Well, some of it does. Some does not. Anyone who has had to chase missing miles knows the pain of things and the ultimate cost, but then again, if something is a hobby and you get really savvy with it, then some of it is a no-brainer so there is no cost in a way. Plus, Helena is correct. We are a special breed--but not far from those who would, say, gamble in the casino--only to go back tomorrow!
3) All businesses these days have included some form of program, gift card, points or affinity and the rebate-like way of gaining and retaining customers. In my opinion, mile mongering is just one of the most well known versions of it. Even people I know who never do things like this know about ff miles and even if they never can get them or use them for their own travels, they ALL 'get it.' that being said, any business that knows this will eventually find a way to get the customers who would decide to shop there. My neighbor wont travel and he is like Archie Bunker. BUT he loves his dog and gawd, when Pet-Co has its points promo or something, he's on it like a fly on Sh**t. And to think I had it bad when it came to trying to get these 200 miles some airline forgot to credit to my account last month.
!Good luck!
MM
I can tell you this, though, about my mile use:
1) if theres a way to get a deal such as in flying with miles to make it cost little or nothing, I will try.
2) Even people with money even want deals. Why? To WIN! People with money dont even want the money sometimes. It's about the feeling of power and that's not a bad thing. They want to win. I want to win. You want to win. In the minds of many addicts in here, we think we win. Money or not, that is why we do this. Does it save us time? Well, some of it does. Some does not. Anyone who has had to chase missing miles knows the pain of things and the ultimate cost, but then again, if something is a hobby and you get really savvy with it, then some of it is a no-brainer so there is no cost in a way. Plus, Helena is correct. We are a special breed--but not far from those who would, say, gamble in the casino--only to go back tomorrow!
3) All businesses these days have included some form of program, gift card, points or affinity and the rebate-like way of gaining and retaining customers. In my opinion, mile mongering is just one of the most well known versions of it. Even people I know who never do things like this know about ff miles and even if they never can get them or use them for their own travels, they ALL 'get it.' that being said, any business that knows this will eventually find a way to get the customers who would decide to shop there. My neighbor wont travel and he is like Archie Bunker. BUT he loves his dog and gawd, when Pet-Co has its points promo or something, he's on it like a fly on Sh**t. And to think I had it bad when it came to trying to get these 200 miles some airline forgot to credit to my account last month.
!Good luck!
MM
Dec 13, 2006 | 12:22 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,036
Count me in. You can e-mail me via FT. If I remember, I'll send you an e-mail too.
You'll have to factor in the difference between the behavior U.S. and most other world-wide airlines are trying to motivate. To overgeneralize somewhat, U.S. airlines want to influence customers' choice of airline. They reward all fare classes, if not exactly alike, at least along more-or-less egalitarian lines. This strategy still seems to work in the LCC era.
Most non-US programs also started pre-LCCs. Airlines choices in that era tended to be driven by national loyalty and the related factor of hub location. Therefore, those program(me)s tend (again generalizing) to focus on motivating people who have already chosen an airline to pay more than the minimum fare. That's why their reward structures are so skewed toward favoring high-fare passengers. Whether or not this is still the right strategy in the LCC era is an open question, but it's hard to change.
Bottom line: you may want to try to separate your data according to whether a respondent is or isn't from the U.S.
You'll have to factor in the difference between the behavior U.S. and most other world-wide airlines are trying to motivate. To overgeneralize somewhat, U.S. airlines want to influence customers' choice of airline. They reward all fare classes, if not exactly alike, at least along more-or-less egalitarian lines. This strategy still seems to work in the LCC era.
Most non-US programs also started pre-LCCs. Airlines choices in that era tended to be driven by national loyalty and the related factor of hub location. Therefore, those program(me)s tend (again generalizing) to focus on motivating people who have already chosen an airline to pay more than the minimum fare. That's why their reward structures are so skewed toward favoring high-fare passengers. Whether or not this is still the right strategy in the LCC era is an open question, but it's hard to change.
Bottom line: you may want to try to separate your data according to whether a respondent is or isn't from the U.S.